Overview

Parliamentary Officer
Reference: AUG20223407
Location: London/ Home Based
Salary: £28,420.00 – £31,529.00 Per Annum
Benefits: Pension, 26 days Annual Leave, Life Assurance
Contract: Permanent role for 37.5 hours per week

This is a critically important time for our natural world, with urgent action required to tackle the nature and climate crisis. With COP15 taking place at the end of the year, a new global framework will be agreed to halt the loss of nature. Ambitious domestic action is required to ensure we are taking the steps required to turn the tide for our environment.

What’s the role about?

The RSPB works in a range of policy areas across the four countries of the UK, in our overseas territories and internationally, to promote solutions to the nature and climate crises.

We are looking for a passionate and persuasive advocate to join our External Affairs team based in London to support our policy experts in advocating their priorities across Whitehall and beyond.

You will engage with politicians and their staff, civil servants, and broader stakeholders to ensure that our work has political resonance. You will work with policy, campaigning, and communications colleagues to find innovative and creative ways to build support for the RSPB and its policies in Westminster and Whitehall by building and maintaining key relationships with political influencers.

As well as working with RSPB colleagues, this role will require you to form strong relationships with colleagues across the NGO sector, including through our partnerships with GreenerUK, Wildlife and Countryside Link and The Climate Coalition.

You will be a talented and passionate advocate with the ability to engage parliamentarians with detailed policies, in a compelling and persuasive manner. You will have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, prioritising work-streams and supporting a strategic narrative in place across all our advocacy.

You can form effective partnerships and create engaging and innovative ways to connect parliamentarians with the work of the RSPB and the natural world.

This job will require a frequent presence in Westminster.

What we need from you

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

* Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant subject or work experience providing the same level of ability.
* At least one years’ experience working in Parliament or undertaking Parliamentary advocacy.
* Demonstrable experience of analysing complex issues in a fast-paced environment
* Demonstrable experience of advocacy and negotiation to successfully influence others
* Effective prioritisation in response to many competing demands
* Persuasive, professional and engaging written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex issues in an accessible manner to a range of audiences.
* Excellent interpersonal skills with a clear ability to build relationships
* Strong negotiation and influencing skills allowing you to engage with and influence key stakeholders.
* Strong time management and organisational skills
* A good understanding of politics and political processes in the UK, in particular at Westminster and in relation to their impact on environmental policy.
* Competent use of Microsoft Office

Desirable skills, knowledge, and experience:

* Understanding of environment/biodiversity policy with experience in undertaking parliamentary advocacy in a relevant field.
* Understanding of the role of communications/campaigns in supporting policy advocacy
* Proven experience of operating in a communications, policy, campaigning or advocacy in a role that has secured better decisions

Closing date: 23:59, Fri, 30th Sep 2022

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 12th October.

If you would like to apply and find out more about this position, please click the apply button to be directed to our website. 

As part of this application process, you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

No agencies please.